Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1887-03-18
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Correspondence of the RECORD:

~, BISMARCK, March 13.
TThe seventeenth legislative assembly
has evaporated. The sixty days of schem-
ing and. agony are in obliviQn,-aaa--so
are some of the Solons. 1t is diff
cult at this time to give thorough and
complete resume of the work of the ses-
sion, and not until the laws are pub.
lished, several months hence, will the
people know just how much good and
how much bad has been accomplished.
The closing scenes of the session will
long be remembered. The spacious halls
and corridors Of the capitol were bril-
liantly illuminated, the galleries and lob-
bies were crowded with ladies and gentle
men, and the members rushed hither and
thithcr IN the interest of their pet meas
urcs which had been delayed A stream
of anxious men flowed incessantly to and
from the governors office, and not until
8 o'clock in the morning did the melton
to djourn prevail. The most exciting
fight was over the bill disbanding the
capitol commission and paying the $685. :
900 outstanding Indebtedness on the
building. AS the bill passed the governor
gave notice that he would not sign it.
AS soon as this was known the friends of
the bill became wild with excitement, and
inaugurated vigorous fight to save the
bill. After several conferences with the
governor he informed them that he would
sign the bill provided the money should
be paid out of the capitol fund, from the
sale of lots given to the territory by The
city of Bismarck. This amendment was
made and the bill was again put through
both houses. This was followed by bill
providing for the insurance of public
buildings, and this completed the happi-
ness of all who had public institutions in
their districts.
The bill providing for the division of
counties, which applies particularly to
Lawrence county, in the Black Hills, was
passed over the governor veto, much to
the delight of Representative Patton, of
Sturgis, who was the father of the bill
The bill authorizing a bounty to be
paid for killing gophers was vetoed and
the bill appropriating $15o.000 for the
purchase of seed wheat for farmers whose
crops were destroyed in 1885 met the
same fate.
The governor Kept the veto machine
working with lightning speed, and many
are the blasted hopes and wounded ambi-
tions caused thereby. The local-option
bill became law, and the question will
be voted upon next November in apy.
cOun tyl where one-thifd of Tire voters, as
shown by the votes cast at the last cleo
ton, petition therefor.
All bills appropriating money for new
public Institutions were vetoed, and the
soldiers home at Hot Springs is known
only as dream born in the active brain
of the irrepressible Doctor Stewart
The officers appointed since my last
letter to you are as follows Public ex
aminer for North Dakota, E. S. Tyler of
N. Harris, Of Aberdeen. Both are most
excellent gentlemen. The most lament
able episode of the session was the ap
pointment of Major Edwards. of Fargo,
as public examiner for North Dakota,
| and the subsequent withdrawal of his
name by the governor. The governor
considered the major able and worthy;
but, fifteen minutes from the time the
| appointment was made. . cyclone of in
dignation broke loose from the major
enemies and the governor was persuaded
| to withdraw the appointment. This is to
| be regretted, for, although the major has
been careless in regard to his good name,
he did not deserve the terrible punisll-
ment that was inflicted. He is a much
purer man than many who maligned him.
| Another appointment is that of G. F.
Templeton of Fargo as attorney general,
and this does not create much comment
! either good or bad. Templeton is not the
most magnificent appearing gentleman in
the world, and will not win many laurels
on dress parade. Those who know him
best state that he is good lawyer, and
that so far as ability is concerned he Will
be no discredit to the place.
The bill creating the Office of oil in
spectoF was killed, and the bill to create a
commission to compile and classify the
laws of the territory passed. Ex-Auditor
Caldwell of Sioux Falls and Charles
Price of H1ghmore were appointed as
the commission. The work must be
| completed within eight menths, and the
amount allowed is $4,000.
| The appropriations made during the
session amount to nearly a million of
dollars, and, had the governor signed all
such bills passed, would have reached
| about million and a half.
The only desirable office left untitled is
that of secretary of the railroad commits
sion, and that will be decided upon at the
first meeting of the board, on April 1.